[grania]

There's still some of the "child of the 1960s" in me, sitting in an audience spellbound by Buffy Sainte Marie, outraged by just how bad the feds can be. The pipeline shouldn't be on native lands which the tribes own by treaty. Isn't there somewhere such as along interstates where pipelines could be built that don't destroy the environment or culturally sensitive areas?

That being said, it is true that solar and especially wind create a lot more problems than they solve.

[metmom]

Those tribes initially gave the OK to build across their land.

Sorry, but they have no complaint.

[dljordan]

“such as along interstates”

I lived 1/2 mile from a pipeline blowout and you don’t want to be around when there’s a problem. What could possibly go wrong with placing it next to an interstate?

[P.O.E.]

Those were the good old days. Too bad all that peace and love was perverted by leftists into politics.

[Alberta's Child]

The pipeline shouldn't be on native lands which the tribes own by treaty.

I don't think this pipeline is actually being built on (or under) any native lands.

[tinamina]

If people would do their research they would see that this pipeline does not go through Indian lands.. they just think it’s too close and may someday affect their water.

[marktwain]

The pipeline in question is not on “native lands”.

It is on the right of way of a natural gas pipeline that is already there.

This is just a green hissy fit against technology in general.

[cyclotic]

I read somewhere that the pipeline company held over 350 meetings with 55 tribes. Standing Rock Sioux were invited to each meeting and never showed up. The other tribes worked with the company to preserve sensitive and sacred ground. The oil company made several route changes to accommodate them. Standing Rock Sioux refused to consider anything.

I also suspect that there are significant legal payments made for land. Given that there are over 300,000 miles of pipeline in the USA and very few accidents, this is by far the safest and most efficient way to transport oil.

It looks like there were about 20 pipeline breaches last year. Most were caused by being hit by dredges or forklifts. As I read it, the Dakota pipeline is completely underground. As it crossed the Missouri river, it’s 92 feet below the riverbed.

Time for these people to give up and go get a job.

[HollyB]

The Corp of Engineers website explains all of this. Each stretch that involved reservations involved meetings with many parties. There’s have been many hundreds of meetings as a result. This project was not done without consideration and careful planning.